Customized orthodontic bracket system

Abstract

A customized orthodontic bracket system is provided. The system can include a bracket having a customized bracket bonding pad for bonding the bracket to a tooth of a patient and a bracket slot adapted to receive a customized archwire. The customized archwire is adapted to be positioned in the bracket slot to form a precise bracket slot-archwire interface. The bracket slot and the archwire when positioned in the bracket slot can be positioned substantially adjacent the tooth surface to reduce induced vertical error when the tooth is in a finished position and substantially parallel to the directly adjacent portion of the tooth surface to reduce bracket thickness. The bracket slot can also be configured to have a bracket slot width substantially matching a dimension of a cross-section of the archwire to reduce torque rotation around an axis of the archwire when positioned therein to further enhance end-of-treatment tooth positioning and reduce overall treatment time.

1. A custom orthodontic bracket system comprising:
 a set of lingual orthodontic brackets for a corresponding set of pre-identified different teeth of a specific pre-identified patient including at least one incisor and at least one canine, each tooth of the set pre-identified different teeth having different shaped lingual facing tooth surfaces therebetween and each pre-identified to separately receive one bracket of the set of lingual orthodontic brackets separately configured to correspond with their respective different teeth, each separate one of the lingual orthodontic brackets of the set separately comprising:
 a tooth-facing bracket bonding surface to directly bond the respective bracket to a specific pre-identified portion of an extent of a lingual facing tooth surface of a respective pre-identified tooth of the specific pre-identified patient defining a complementary bracket receiving tooth surface, an entire extent of the bracket bonding surface of the respective bracket derived from imaging data representing the three-dimensional shape of the extent of the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface and having a three-dimensional surface shape forming a negative of a three-dimensional surface shape of an entire extent of the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface described by the imaging data and in existence prior to being mounted to the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface, and 
 a bracket body connected to the bracket bonding surface and including an archwire receiving slot positioned to receive an archwire, the archwire receiving slot having a first and a second opposed sidewall, a slot base, a slot opening opposite the slot base, and a main axis being perpendicular to the slot base and parallel to the first and the second sidewalls, the archwire receiving slot canted so that a plane parallel to the main axis is substantially parallel to both a surface plane of a major extent of a directly adjacent portion of the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface and a surface plane of an extent of a corresponding portion of the bracket bonding surface located between the archwire receiving slot and the major extent of the directly adjacent portion of the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface when the respective bracket is mounted to the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface of the respective pre-identified tooth, the archwire receiving slot further canted so that the plane parallel to the main axis intersects an occlusal plane of a pre-identified jawbone of the pre-identified patient carrying the pre-identified different teeth at a certain oblique angle relative to the occlusal plane when the respective bracket is mounted to the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface of the respective pre-identified tooth and when the pre-identified tooth is in a finished position, to reduce overall bracket body thickness to thereby decrease tongue irritation, decrease articulation impediment, decrease incidence of bracket loss, increase positioning control for finishing, and increase patient comfort, the finished position being a desired finished position wherein no further repositioning forces are imparted to the respective bracket by an archwire positioned in the archwire receiving slot; and 
 
 the archwire configured to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of each bracket of the set of brackets, the archwire having a first dimension of a cross-section and a second dimension of the cross-section substantially perpendicular to the first dimension of the cross-section, the archwire including substantial portions of substantial planar extent and substantial portions of substantial arcuate extent dimensioned so that the second dimension of the cross-section of the substantial portions of substantial arcuate extent is canted relative to the second dimension of the cross-section of the substantial portions of substantial planar extent, each portion of the archwire to be separately positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a different one of the set of brackets defining a bracket receiving portion having a main axis being perpendicular to the first dimension of the cross-section and parallel to the second dimension of the cross-section when the respective bracket receiving portion is positioned in the respective archwire receiving slot, each bracket receiving portion of the archwire canted at an oblique angle to match the respective oblique angle formed between the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of the respective bracket and the occlusal plane when the bracket bonding surface of the respective bracket is bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual tooth surface of the respective tooth, when the respective portion of the archwire to be positioned in the respective archwire receiving slot is positioned therein, and when the respective tooth is in the finished position. 
 
     
     
       2. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the set of pre-identified different teeth include a set of different teeth each having a different function, the set of different teeth comprising a central incisor, a lateral incisor, and a canine; 
 wherein each portion of the archwire to be separately positioned in a separate one of the archwire receiving slots of the corresponding separate brackets is separately canted so that the main axis of the respective portion of the archwire and the occlusal plane intersect with the occlusal plane at an angle matching the corresponding oblique angle between the main axis of the respective archwire receiving slot and the occlusal plane when positioned within the respective archwire receiving slot, when the bracket bonding surface of the respective bracket is bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual tooth surface of the respective tooth, and when the plurality of teeth are in their respective finished positions; and 
 wherein the system further comprises a bracket having a tooth-facing bracket bonding surface for bonding the bracket to a portion of a lingual tooth surface of a molar of the patient and an archwire receiving slot positioned to receive a portion of the archwire, the archwire receiving slot oriented vertically when the respective molar is in its respective finished position. 
 
     
     
       3. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the set of lingual orthodontic brackets includes a first bracket associated with a first tooth, a second bracket associated with a second tooth, and a third bracket associated with a third tooth, wherein the portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the first tooth is a first portion of the archwire, wherein the portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the second tooth is a second portion of the archwire, wherein the portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the third tooth is a third portion of the archwire, the system further comprising:
 a fourth bracket having a tooth-facing bracket bonding surface for bonding the fourth bracket to a portion of a lingual tooth surface of a fourth tooth of the patient and a archwire receiving slot positioned to receive a fourth portion of the archwire, the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket having a first and a second opposed sidewall having a distance therebetween defining a slot width, a slot base, and a main axis being perpendicular to the slot base and parallel to the first and the second sidewalls, the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket being oriented approximately perpendicular to the occlusal plane when the fourth bracket is bonded to a receiving portion of the lingual surface of the fourth tooth and the fourth tooth is in its finished position; 
 wherein the archwire is dimensioned according to the following criteria:
 the first dimension of the cross-section of the first portion of the archwire precisely matches the archwire receiving slot width of the archwire receiving slot of the first bracket, 
 the main axis of the first portion of the archwire is parallel to the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of the first bracket when the first portion of the archwire is positioned therein and the first tooth is in its finished position, 
 the fourth portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket has a main axis being perpendicular to the first dimension of the cross-section and parallel to the second dimension of the cross-section, 
 the first dimension of the cross-section of the fourth portion of the archwire precisely matches the slot width of the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket, and 
 the main axis of the fourth portion of the archwire is parallel to the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket when the fourth portion of the archwire is positioned therein and the fourth tooth is in its finished position; and 
 
 wherein the archwire is dimensioned so that when the archwire is positioned in the archwire receiving slots of the first and fourth brackets, when the first bracket is bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual surface of the first tooth, when the fourth bracket is bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual surface of the fourth tooth, and when the respective teeth are each in their finished positions:
 the main axis of the first portion of the archwire positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the first bracket is canted at the oblique angle of the main axis of the archwire receiving slot being canted relative to the occlusal plane, and 
 the main axis of the fourth portion of the archwire positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket is approximately perpendicular to the occlusal plane. 
 
 
     
     
       4. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the archwire receiving slot of one or the brackets of the set of brackets is a tube. 
     
     
       5. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the set of lingual orthodontic brackets includes a first bracket associated with a first tooth, a second bracket associated with a second tooth, and a third bracket associated with a third tooth, wherein the portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the first tooth is a first portion of the archwire, wherein the portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the second tooth is a second portion of the archwire, wherein the portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the third tooth is a third portion of the archwire, the system further comprising:
 a fourth bracket having a tooth-facing bracket bonding surface for bonding the fourth bracket to a portion of a lingual tooth surface of a fourth tooth of the patient and a archwire receiving slot positioned to receive a fourth portion of the archwire, the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket having a first and a second opposed sidewall having a distance therebetween defining a slot width, a slot base, and a main axis being perpendicular to the slot base and parallel to the first and the second sidewalls, the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket being oriented approximately parallel to the occlusal plane when the fourth bracket is bonded to a receiving portion of the lingual surface of the fourth tooth and the fourth tooth is in its finished position; 
 wherein the archwire is dimensioned according to the following criteria:
 the first dimension of the cross-section of the first portion of the archwire precisely matches the slot width of the archwire receiving slot of the first bracket, 
 the main axis of the first portion of the archwire is parallel to the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of the first bracket when the first portion of the archwire is positioned therein and the first tooth is in its finished position, 
 the fourth portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket has a main axis being perpendicular to the first dimension of the cross-section and parallel to the second dimension of the cross-section, 
 the second dimension of the cross-section of the fourth portion of the archwire precisely matches the slot width of the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket, and 
 the main axis of the fourth portion of the archwire is perpendicular to the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket when the fourth portion of the archwire is positioned therein and the fourth tooth is in its finished position; and 
 
 wherein the archwire is dimensioned so that when the archwire is positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the first and fourth brackets, when the first bracket is bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual surface of the first tooth, when the fourth bracket is bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual surface of the fourth tooth, and when the respective teeth are each in their finished positions:
 the main axis of the first portion of the archwire positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the first bracket is canted at the oblique angle of the main axis of the archwire receiving slot being canted relative to the occlusal plane, and 
 the main axis of the fourth portion of the archwire positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket is approximately perpendicular to the occlusal plane. 
 
 
     
     
       6. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the set of lingual orthodontic brackets includes a first bracket associated with a first tooth, a second bracket associated with a second tooth, and a third bracket associated with a third tooth, wherein the portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the first tooth is a first portion of the archwire, wherein the portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the second tooth is a second portion of the archwire, wherein the portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the third tooth is a third portion of the archwire, the system further comprising:
 a fourth bracket having a tooth-facing bracket bonding surface for bonding the fourth bracket to a portion of a lingual tooth surface of a fourth tooth of the patient and a archwire receiving slot positioned to receive a fourth portion of the archwire, the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket having a first and a second opposed sidewall having a distance therebetween defining a slot width, a slot base, and a main axis being perpendicular to the slot base and parallel to the first and the second sidewalls, the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket being oriented approximately parallel to the occlusal plane when the fourth bracket is bonded to a receiving portion of the lingual surface of the fourth tooth and the fourth tooth is in its finished position; 
 wherein the archwire is dimensioned according to the following criteria:
 the first dimension of the cross-section of the first portion of the archwire precisely matches the slot width of the archwire receiving slot of the first bracket, 
 the main axis of the first portion of the archwire is parallel to the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of the first bracket when the first portion of the archwire is positioned therein and the first tooth is in its finished position, 
 the fourth portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket has a main axis being perpendicular to the first dimension of the cross-section and parallel to the second dimension of the cross-section, 
 the first dimension of the cross-section of the fourth portion of the archwire precisely matches the slot width of the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket, and 
 the main axis of the fourth portion of the archwire is parallel to the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket when the fourth portion of the archwire is positioned therein and the fourth tooth is in its finished position; and 
 
 wherein the archwire is dimensioned so that when the archwire is positioned in the archwire receiving slots of the first and fourth brackets, when the first bracket is bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual surface of the first tooth, when the fourth bracket is bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual surface of the fourth tooth, and when the respective teeth are each in their finished positions:
 the main axis of the first portion of the archwire positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the first bracket is canted at the oblique angle of the main axis of the archwire receiving slot being canted relative to the occlusal plane, and 
 the main axis of the fourth portion of the archwire positioned in the archwire receiving slot of the fourth bracket is approximately parallel to the occlusal plane. 
 
 
     
     
       7. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the set of lingual orthodontic brackets comprises a first plurality of brackets to be positioned on a corresponding first plurality of teeth, the first plurality of teeth including the at least one incisor and the at least one canine, the system further comprising:
 a second plurality of brackets each having a tooth-facing bracket bonding surface for bonding the respective bracket to a receiving portion of a lingual surface of a corresponding one of a second plurality of teeth and having a archwire receiving slot including a first and a second opposed sidewall having a distance therebetween defining a slot width, a slot base, and a main axis being perpendicular to the slot base and parallel to the first and the second sidewalls, the second plurality of teeth including a plurality of molars; 
 wherein the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of each bracket of the second plurality of brackets to be positioned on a molar is positioned in relation to the respective bonding surface to be oriented approximately perpendicular to the occlusal plane when the bracket bonding surface of the respective bracket is bonded to the lingual tooth surface of the respective tooth and the respective tooth is in its finished position; 
 wherein the archwire is configured to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of each of the first plurality of brackets and each of the second plurality of brackets; 
 wherein the archwire is dimensioned according to the following criteria:
 each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the first plurality of brackets and each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the second plurality of brackets has the main axis being perpendicular to the first dimension of the cross-section and parallel to the second dimension of the cross-section of the respective portion of the archwire, 
 the first dimension of the cross-section of each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the first plurality of brackets precisely matches the slot width of the archwire receiving slot of the respective one of the first plurality of brackets, 
 the main axis of the each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the first plurality of brackets is parallel to the main axis of the respective archwire receiving slot of the one of the plurality of first brackets when positioned therein, 
 the first dimension of the cross-section of each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the second plurality of brackets precisely matches the slot width of the archwire receiving slot of the respective one of the second plurality of brackets, and 
 the main axis of each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the second plurality of brackets is parallel to the main axis of the respective archwire receiving slot of the one of the plurality of second brackets when positioned therein; and 
 
 wherein the archwire is configured so that when the archwire is positioned in the archwire receiving slots of each of the first and the second plurality of brackets, when the first plurality of brackets are each bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual surface of the corresponding one of the first plurality of teeth, when the second plurality of brackets are each bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual surface of the corresponding one of the second plurality of teeth, and when the respective teeth are each in their finished positions:
 the main axis of each portion of the archwire positioned the archwire receiving slot of a respective one of the first plurality of brackets is canted at the corresponding oblique angle of the main axis of the respective archwire receiving slot being canted relative to the occlusal plane, and 
 the main axis each portion of the archwire positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a respective one the second plurality of brackets is approximately perpendicular to the occlusal plane. 
 
 
     
     
       8. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the set of lingual orthodontic brackets comprises a first plurality of brackets to be positioned on a corresponding first plurality of teeth, the first plurality of teeth including the at least one incisor and the at least one canine, the system further comprising:
 a second plurality of brackets each having a tooth-facing bracket bonding surface for bonding the respective bracket to a receiving portion of a lingual surface of a corresponding one of a second plurality of teeth and having an archwire receiving slot including a first and a second opposed sidewall having a distance therebetween defining a slot width, a slot base, and a main axis being perpendicular to the slot base and parallel to the first and the second sidewalls, the archwire receiving slot positioned at least approximately adjacent the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface, the second plurality of teeth including a plurality of molars; 
 wherein the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of each bracket of the second plurality of brackets to be positioned on a molar is positioned in relation to the respective bonding surface to be oriented approximately parallel to the occlusal plane when the bracket bonding surface of the respective bracket is bonded to the lingual tooth surface of the respective tooth and the respective tooth is in its finished position; 
 wherein the archwire is configured to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of each of the first plurality of brackets and each of the second plurality of brackets; 
 wherein the archwire is dimensioned according to the following criteria:
 each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the first plurality of brackets and each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the second plurality of brackets has a main axis being perpendicular to the first dimension of the cross-section and parallel to the second dimension of the cross-section of the respective portion of the archwire, 
 the first dimension of the cross-section of each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the first plurality of brackets precisely matches the slot width of the archwire receiving slot of the respective one of the first plurality of brackets, 
 the main axis of the each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the first plurality of brackets is parallel to the main axis of the respective archwire receiving slot of the one of the plurality of first brackets when positioned therein, 
 the second dimension of the cross-section of each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the second plurality of brackets precisely matches the slot width of the archwire receiving slot of the respective one of the second plurality of brackets, and 
 the main axis of each portion of the archwire to be positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a separate one of the second plurality of brackets is perpendicular to the main axis of the respective archwire receiving slot of the one of the plurality of second brackets when positioned therein; and 
 
 wherein the archwire is dimensioned so that when the archwire is positioned in the archwire receiving slots of each of the first and the second plurality of brackets, when the first plurality of brackets are each bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual surface of the corresponding one of the first plurality of teeth, when the second plurality of brackets are each bonded to the receiving portion of the lingual surface of the corresponding one of the second plurality of teeth, and when the respective teeth are each in their finished positions:
 the main axis of each portion of the archwire positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a respective one of the first plurality of brackets is canted at the corresponding oblique angle of the main axis of the respective archwire receiving slot being canted relative to the occlusal plane, and 
 the main axis each portion of the archwire positioned in the archwire receiving slot of a respective one the second plurality of brackets is approximately perpendicular to the occlusal plane. 
 
 
     
     
       9. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one of the set of brackets comprises a unitary bracket body; 
 wherein a first portion of the bracket body comprising a first alloy material, the first portion of the bracket body including the archwire receiving slot is formed from the first alloy material; 
 wherein a second portion of the bracket comprising a second alloy material, the second portion of the bracket body including the tooth-facing bonding surface, the tooth-facing bonding surface formed from the second alloy material; and 
 wherein the second alloy material is softer than the first alloy material to thereby enhance post-treatment de-bonding and the first alloy material is harder than the second alloy material to enhance archwire receiving slot strength to thereby withstand high mechanical stresses. 
 
     
     
       10. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 ,
 wherein a bracket body of at least one of the set of brackets containing the archwire receiving slot comprises a plurality of layers of bracket body material; 
 wherein the main axis of the archwire receiving slot and each of the first and the second opposed sidewalls is oriented substantially parallel to the layers; and 
 wherein the slot width is an integer multiple of layer thickness. 
 
     
     
       11. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a prototype of at least one of the set of brackets, the prototype comprising a plurality of layers of bracket prototype material;
 wherein a main axis of an archwire receiving slot of the prototype is oriented parallel to the layers; 
 wherein the archwire receiving slot of the prototype has a slot width; and 
 wherein the slot width of the prototype is an integer multiple of layer thickness. 
 
     
     
       12. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface of each bracket of the set of brackets is dimensioned to be sufficiently large to function in conjunction with the precise three-dimensional surface shape as a tool for locating the associated complementary bracket receiving tooth surface and orientating the respective bracket thereon without need for a separate mechanical bracket placement tool. 
     
     
       13. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each bracket of the set of brackets is dimensioned to be hand positionable on the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface of the tooth associated therewith at a proper position and orientation without assistance of a bracket placement jig or tray to define a self-positioning bracket. 
     
     
       14. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the portion of at least one of the set of brackets including the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface comprises one or more of the following materials: a metallic, material and a ceramic material; 
 wherein the tooth-facing surface of the respective bracket is dimensioned to cover at least 50 percent of the lingual tooth surface of the tooth when bonded thereto; and 
 wherein the tooth-facing surface of the respective bracket is further dimensioned so that it does not extend into any adjacent embrasures when bonded to the lingual tooth surface of the tooth. 
 
     
     
       15. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tooth-facing surface of the respective bracket is dimensioned so that it does not extend into any adjacent embrasures when bonded to the lingual tooth surface of the tooth. 
     
     
       16. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface of at least one of the set of brackets is dimensioned to cover at least a portion of a cusp of the respective tooth when bonded thereto. 
     
     
       17. An orthodontic bracket defined in  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one of the set of brackets include a custom thin shaped bracket bonding pad having the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface and an opposite non-tooth facing outer surface; and 
 wherein a portion of the opposite non-tooth facing outer surface forms the surface of the first opposing sidewall of the archwire receiving slot. 
 
     
     
       18. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 ,
 wherein each bracket of the set of brackets includes a non-planar complex bracket bonding pad including the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface and a lingual-facing opposite surface; and 
 wherein a substantial portion of an entire extent of the lingual-facing surface of the bracket bonding pad of each bracket of the set of brackets have a three-dimensional surface shape forming the negative of the three-dimensional surface shape of corresponding substantial portion of the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface. 
 
     
     
       19. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one bracket of the set of brackets include a non-planar complex bracket bonding pad including the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface and an opposite lingual facing surface, both the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface and the opposite lingual facing surface dimensioned to exactly match the three-dimensional surface shape of the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface of the respective tooth; and 
 wherein the custom non-planar bracket bonding pad has a thickness between the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface and the opposite lingual facing surface that is substantially uniform across the pad. 
 
     
     
       20. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each bracket of the set of brackets is configured to provide a torque error of substantially less than about 10 degrees when the archwire is positioned within the archwire receiving slot and when the archwire is operationally employed. 
     
     
       21. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one bracket of the set of brackets includes a bracket body connected to a bracket bonding pad having the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface; 
 wherein the archwire receiving slot of the respective bracket is positioned substantially offset from an approximate center of an extent of the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface, substantially adjacent an outer perimeter of the extent of the tooth-facing bracket bonding surface; and 
 wherein the bracket pad of the respective bracket is dimensioned so that a plane parallel to the main axis of the archwire receiving slot extends through a portion of the bracket bonding pad. 
 
     
     
       22. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one bracket of the set of brackets includes a bracket pad having the tooth-facing bonding surface, and wherein a plane parallel to the main axis of the archwire receiving slot of the respective bracket extends through a portion of the bracket pad. 
     
     
       23. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each bracket of the set of brackets comprises a custom bracket bonding pad including the respective tooth-facing bracket bonding surface, each bracket bonding pad integral with the bracket body of the respective bracket of the set of brackets. 
     
     
       24. An orthodontic bracket system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first dimension of the cross-section of the archwire precisely matches the slot width and the second dimension of the cross-section of the archwire precisely matches the slot height of each of the at least one bracket of the set of brackets.